Waiting on Wednesday – Days of Shattered Faith by Adrian Tchaikovsky

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Fantasy, Waiting on Wednesday10 Comments

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I check out an awesome upcoming fantasy novel from one of the most inventive authors of the day with Days of Shattered Faith by Adrian Tchaikovsky.

Days of Shattered Faith Cover

So, people might remember that a couple of months ago, I highlighted three books coming out in 2023 from acclaimed science fiction and fantasy author Adrian Tchaikovsky, including Alien Clay, Service Model and Saturation Point.  All three of these novels are still set for release this year, with the first, Alien Clay coming out a couple of days ago (I need to find a copy).  However, despite this incredible effort from Tchaikovsky (I can’t think of many authors who can produce three unique books in a year), he’s apparently still not done.  I just found out that somehow, Tchaikovsky has a fourth book coming out in 2024, and this additional novel, Days of Shattered Faith, is probably the one I am most excited for.

Days of Shattered Faith will be the third book in Tchaikovsky’s The Tyrant Philosophers fantasy series.  This series has so far featured two outstanding books, City of Last Chances and House of Open Wounds, both of which were amongst my favourite books of 2023 (with City of Last Chances being one of the best audiobooks of 2023).  Set in a world of magic, gods and demons, The Tyrant Philosophers books follow the chaotic struggles that occur amongst unique people, often in a comedic and cynical manner.

While there are some overlapping characters, the first two books are mostly independent of each other, except for the fact that they examine the dark impact of the Palleseen, a growing empire of fanatics who believe in perfection and correctness, primarily through the violent suppression of superstition, beliefs, and faith.  The first book showcased the oppression of the Palleseen in a conquered magical city, while House of Open Wounds followed members of a Palleseen army medical unit who utilise forbidden medical techniques that the Palleseen sought to exploit for their military.  Both City of Last Chances and House of Open Wounds had incredible stories expertly centred around complex and damaged characters, and I loved the outstanding mixture of personalities, compelling fantasy elements and dark humour that Tchaikovsky utilised.  Due to how epic these first two books were, I have been eagerly waiting for a third book and thankfully Tchaikovsky seems very willing to oblige with the upcoming novel Days of Shattered Faith.

Days of Shattered Faith is currently set for release in December 2024, and looks to be a loose sequel to the first two books.  Once again following the impact of the Palleseen, Tchaikovsky has come up with an awesome new story that I really love the sound of.

Plot Synopsis:

Welcome to Alkhalend, Jewel of the Waters, capital of Usmai, greatest of the Successor States, inheritor to the necromantic dominion that was the Moeribandi Empire and tomorrow’s frontline in the Palleseen’s relentless march to bring Perfection and Correctness to an imperfect world.

Loret is fresh off the boat, and just in time.

As Cohort-Invigilator of Correct Appreciation, Outreach department, she’s here as aide to the Palleseen Resident, Sage-Invigilator Angilly. And Sage-Invigilator Angilly – Gil to her friends – needs a second in the spectacularly illegal, culturally offensive and diplomatically inadvisable duel she must fight at midnight.

Outreach, that part of the Pal machine that has to work within the imperfection of the rest of the world, has a lot of room for the illegal, the unconventional, the unorthodox. But just how much unorthodoxy can Gil and Loret get away with?

As a succession crisis looms, as a long-forgotten feat of necromantic engineering nears fruition, as pirate kings, lizard armies and demons gather, as old gods wane and new gods wax, sooner or later Gil and Loret will have to settle their ledger.

Just as well they are both very, very good with a blade…

I’m already so very, very keen for this book, especially as Tchaikovsky has something very special on his hands here.  A chaotic city, two intriguing new protagonists, and a whole range of over-the-top circumstances are the ideal formula for an epic Tchaikovsky novel, and it looks like Days of Shattered Faith is going to have that in spades, as well as pirates and lizardmen.

I’m particularly keen to see what fantastic and complex story Tchaikovsky weaves around his protagonists, especially as the two Palleseen are out in the world that they are supposed to despise.  I love the idea of watching these two characters push the envelope of their beliefs to achieve their goals, and the inbuilt cynicism, hypocrisy and self-loathing that will surround this is bound to be excellent.  Tchaikovsky has pulled together some amazing stories around the Palleseen already, and frankly they are such a great villainous faction, especially as many of them only pretend to ascribe to the beliefs they kill for.  Seeing two of these Palleseen protagonists on the very edge and dealing with all manner of trouble is going to be extremely compelling, and I look forward to seeing how they interact with all the unique figures of this new city.  I’m also keen to see if we get any returning characters from the first two books, as there are some great storylines that can be continued, and I am sure that Tchaikovsky will do a wonderful job bringing them all together.

Look, after loving Tchaikovsky’s previous two novels, as well as his Warhammer 40,000 novel Day of Ascension and the novella Ogres, there is no way I am not grabbing Days of Shattered Faith when it comes out.  This series has been so damn epic already, and the above synopsis promises more fun, unique occurrences and complex humour.  I have very little doubt that Days of Shattered Faith is going to be one of my favourite books of 2024 and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

WWW Wednesday – 27 March 2024

On By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW Wednesday2 Comments

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

The Winter Palace by Paul Morgan (Trade Paperback)

The Winter Palace Cover

I started reading the compelling historical drama, The Winter Palace by Paul Morgan this week.  Set during World War II, The Winter Palace follows a separated Polish husband and wife duo as they attempt to get back to each other.  I’ve made a bit of progress with The Winter Palace so far and it is proving to be an excellent and moving novel that I should hopefully finish off in the next week or so.

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Peace Talks by Jim Butcher (Audiobook)

Peace Talks Cover

After slowly making my way through the entire Dresden Files series, I have finally made it full circle with the 16th book, Peace Talks.  A slightly shorter read that serves as a prelude to the epic book Battle Ground, Peace Talks is a compelling read that sees the protagonist deal with a supernatural peace summit in Chicago.  I have been really powering through Peace Talks and I will probably finish it off very soon.

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What did you recently finish reading?

A Clean Kill by Steven Konkoly (Ebook)

A Clean Kill Cover

An intriguing read about a dangerous serial killer and the sinister conspiracy surrounding him, A Clean Kill was very exciting and I’m glad I checked it out.

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Warhammer 40,000: Da Big Dakka by Mike Brooks (Audiobook)

Da Big Dakka Cover

Nothing is more fun than a Warhammer 40,000 book that focuses on the orks, and Da Big Dakka proved to be particularly awesome.  Following a band of orks as they rampage through a unique area of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, Da Big Dakka was so very funny, and I am hoping to get a review up for it soon.

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White Ash Ridge by S. R. White

White Ash Ridge Cover

I managed to get through the captivating Australian murder mystery, White Ash Ridge by S. R. White this week.  An awesome sequel to Prisoner, and Red Dirt Road, White Ash Ridge had an outstanding mystery behind it, that proved very hard to put down.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

The Atlas Maneuver by Steve Berry

The Atlas Maneuver Cover

I swear that I really will listen to The Atlas Maneuver by Steve Berry next.  The latest book in the long-running Cotton Malone series, The Atlas Maneuver will feature another outstanding plot that blends historical conspiracies with modern day thriller storylines.  I have deeply enjoyed all the recent Cotton Malone books, and I have no doubt The Atlas Maneuver will be another exceptional and fun entry.

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That’s it for this week, check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

War Cry by Ian Ross

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction8 Comments

War Cry Cover

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton (Trade Paperback – 25 January 2024)

Series: de Norton trilogy – Book Two

Length: 387 pages

My Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars

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Ready to dive into an intense and fantastic historical adventure, then look no further than the epic new novel from Ian Ross, War Cry.

Last year I had the very great pleasure of reading the epic novel, Battle Song.  Written by author Ian Ross, who had made a name for himself with his Roman historical fiction, Battle Song was an outstanding and compelling novel that really blew me away.  Set during Simon de Montfort’s rebellion against the English crown, Battle Song followed a rogue knight and his squire, as they attempt to find the best side to fight on.  I had an outstanding time with Battle Song, especially as Ross combined a unique story with intriguing historical background and some great characters.  Battle Song ended up being one of my favourite books of 2023, and I had such a great time getting through it.  As such, I have been eager to see how Ross was going to follow Battle Song up and I recently got my hands on the sequel War Cry.  One of my most anticipated reads for 2024, War Cry proved to be an outstanding book that I quickly powered through.

England, 1265.  Following his decisive victory at the Battle of Lewes, the English lord Simon de Montford is now the de-facto ruler of England.  Holding the king and the crown prince prisoner, de Montford has ambitious plans to increase the power of the nobles while he champions the rights of the common people.  However, de Montford’s control is not absolute, with several powerful lords still loyal to the royal family and desperately seeking to restore their rule.  Worse, many of de Montford’s allies in the initial rebellion have grown wary of his power and ambitions.

As the political climate of England once again changes, the recently knighted Adam de Norton finds himself reclaiming his ancestral lands.  Finally having everything he always longed for, Adam looks to settle down and enjoy the prosperous future set out before him.  But the dual loyalties of England weigh heavily around him, and soon rumours of a new rebellion emerge, dragging Adam back to war.

Returning to the service of de Montford, Adam seeks to prove his worth in battle.  However, despite owing everything to de Montford, Adam begins to wonder if he should truly be fighting this war.  As the war progresses, Adam finds himself pushed to the limit and his loyalties tested, especially when he finds himself on the opposite side of his former mentor and master, Robert de Dunstanville.  Can Adam survive the brutal civil war unfolding around him, or has he chosen the wrong side of the conflict?

This was an awesome book from Ian Ross, who provided an outstanding follow up to his previous epic read.  War Cry had an amazing and powerful story behind it, which honestly had me hooked the entire way through.  I had such a great time with this book, and I ended up powering through it in only a short couple of days.

War Cry featured a powerful, brutal, addictive narrative that expertly ties together a personal story, while also diving into a particularly unique and fascinating period of English history.  This story is told exclusively from the perspective of returning protagonist Adam de Norton, who, after his adventures in the first book, has become a knight with his family estates returned to him.  The initial scenes of War Cry follow Adam as he attempts to restore his lands, while also facing conflict from several intriguing new enemies.  However, he is also soon forced to navigate the new political situation of England.  Despite his desire to stay out of the war, Adam is compelled by honour to return to the side of Simon de Norton as his rivals rise in rebellion against him.

This leads to an intriguing narrative that follows the subsequent campaigns that occurred in the period after de Norton’s rise to power.  Adam finds himself caught up in several key conflicts and events, including the escape of a certain hostage, a quick siege, and a collection of deadly battles across the breadth of the country.  At the same time, Adam is also caught up in several personal dramas, as he tries to reconcile his loyalties to de Norton, his friendship with Robert de Dunstanville, and his forbidden romance with Joane.  Ross did a great job of blending the historical and the personal together, and you get a great simultaneous look at the protagonist’s struggles, while also seeing the events of the war progress around him.  Thanks to the historical record, events get grimmer and grimmer for the protagonist as War Cry continues and you get really invested in seeing how everything unfolds, especially if you aren’t familiar with this particular English civil war.  Everything leads up to another climatic battle, where Adam and many of the supporting characters of the book meet their fates, one way or another.  The book ends on a pretty unique and dark note, and you will come away shocked at the cliffhanger, while also longing for more.

I really enjoyed how War Cry came together, as this epic piece of historical fiction was designed to hit hard and keep you on your toes.  I particularly loved some of the book’s unique historical elements, as Ross continued to explore the Simon de Norton rebellion against the English crown, which was such a major highpoint of Battle Song.  This unique civil war was a brilliant backdrop for the series, and Ross meticulously covers all the key events that followed de Norton’s victory at the Battle of Lewes here in War Cry.  You really get invested in this historical element of the book, especially as Ross expertly showcases some of the deadliest battles and places his protagonist right in the middle of them.  All these fight scenes are extremely well written, and Ross excels at highlighting the chaotic feel of battle, as Adam constantly finds himself amid a brutal melee of battle, especially during the final fight, and one particularly intense sequence on a bridge.  However, War Cry is much more than a rendition of a compelling historical war, it is also a deeply personal tale of love, loyalty, honour, and friendship, as the protagonist attempts to come to terms with his complex life and relationships while caught up in the battles.  As such, there is a little something for everybody in War Cry, and most fans of historical fiction will absolutely love this book.  War Cry was also a very worth sequel to Battle Song, and I cannot emphasise just how well Ross built on his original narrative and provided a gripping continuation in this sequel.

As with Battle Song, War Cry features a compelling combination of characters, including a mixture of fiction and real historical figures caught up in the war.  Ross did a great job of blending the two groups together, and I loved the range of unique knights and lords that emerged and the compelling interactions that followed.  There is a real focus on twisted loyalties and uncertain honour as many of the characters change alliances throughout the book, desperate to be on the winning side.  I did think that Ross might have at times included too many supporting characters, especially when it came to the various knights and lords, as you sometimes get worn down with a flurry of knightly names and titles that proves hard to remember.  However, this is generally a minor issue, especially when most of the character focus is reserved for recurring protagonists from the first book.

I really enjoyed seeing more of protagonist Adam de Norton, who is such a compelling centre for much of the plot.  After witnessing his exploits as a squire in the first book, it was great to finally see Adam as a knight in War Cry, even though that causes him more trouble than he hoped for.  Constantly dragged through battle after battle thanks to his still somewhat naïve sense of duty, Adam finds his loyalties fraying at times as he tries to stay true to who he is.  This proves hard as he is once again going up against the more self-centred views of his mentor, while also harbouring a forbidden love that he knows he cannot act on.  Several other characters also shine throughout War Cry, although my favourite is probably Robert de Dunstanville, Adam’s former mentor and friend.  While we get less of Robert in War Cry than I expected, he still proves to be a fascinating figure, serving as Adam’s dark conscience and trying to get him to do the smart thing rather than the right thing.  The two come to blows at several points throughout War Cry, and it was fascinating to see how their relationship has changed now that Adam has become his own man.  Robert also has some of the more fascinating character arcs.  After finally getting he wanted, he is still unhappy, and his attempts to reverse that cause only heartache for him.  I really enjoyed seeing these characters and more develop even further in War Cry, and there are some surprising fates for several of them that I honestly did not see coming.  It will be interesting to see what happens to the remaining protagonists in the future, and I really hope we get a third book soon as I am very invested in their stories.

Overall, War Cry by Ian Ross was an outstanding piece of historical fiction that I cannot recommend enough.  Expertly continuing Ross’s outstanding 2023 novel, Battle Song, War Cry thrusts the reader into the bloody centre of a fascinating English historical war, while also focusing on some complex and likeable characters.  Loaded with battle, intrigue and relatable protagonists, War Cry proved to be highly addictive, and I had an incredible time getting through it.

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Book Haul – 22 March 2024

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I have been having another excellent couple of weeks for books, and I was lucky enough to receive several incredible and amazing new novels from some of my local publishers.  These novels include some truly awesome new releases, including several books that have the potential to be some of my top reads of the year.  I cannot wait to dive into them, and I look forward to seeing how they turn out.

Death on the Tiber by Lindsey Davis

Death on the Tiber Cover

I was very happy to receive a copy of Death on the Tiber by Lindsey Davis.  An intriguing new addition to one of my favourite historical fiction series, the Flavia Albia books, Death on the Tiber presents another intense historical murder mystery that I know I’m going to love.

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White Ash Ridge by S. R. White

White Ash Ridge Cover

I was also very happy to receive a copy of White Ash Ridge by S. R. White.  Part of a great Australian murder mystery series that has previously featured awesome books like Prisoner and Red Dirt Road, White Ash Ridge has an epic and compelling sounding murder behind it that I cannot wait to unravel.

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How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin

How to Solve Your Own Murder Cover

A cool and fun sounding murder mystery book with a great concept behind it, as the protagonist attempts to solve her great aunt’s long-predicted murder.  I have heard good things about How to Solve Your Own Murder and I look forward to seeing how it comes together.

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Play of Shadows by Sebastien De Castell

Play of Shadows Cover

An intriguing fantasy novel from acclaimed author Sebastien De Castell.  I will have to see how I go with Play of Shadows, mainly because I haven’t read the previous series that was set in the same universe.  Still, I had a lot of fun with De Castell’s last book, The Malevolent Seven, so I am sure I will have a great time getting through Play of Shadows.

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War Cry by Ian Ross

War Cry Cover

I was very happy to finally get my hands on the new Ian Ross book, War Cry.  The sequel to his outstanding 2023 novel, Battle Song, War Cry is an awesome piece of historical fiction that follows a young knight involved in a brutal civil war.  I’ve actually already read War Cry, and it proved to be an epic novel with a brilliant story behind it.

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The Winter Palace by Paul Morgan

The Winter Palace Cover

I was intrigued to get a copy of the fantastic sounding historical drama, The Winter Palace.  Following a Polish husband and wife separated during World War II, The Winter Palace promises to be an exciting and moving read about love, sacrifice and war.

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Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Where Sleeping Girls Lie Cover

The final book I recently received was the compelling young adult thriller, Where Sleeping Girls Lie.  An intriguing and dark mystery set in an elite private school, Where Sleeping Girls Lie sounds like an excellent novel and I cannot wait to check it out.

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Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post.  As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in.  Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.

WWW Wednesday – 20 March 2024

On By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

A Clean Kill by Steven Konkoly (Ebook)

A Clean Kill Cover

I was in the mood for a good thriller this week, so I started reading the upcoming book, A Clean Kill by Steven Konkoly.  An intriguing read about a dangerous serial killer and the sinister conspiracy surrounding him, A Clean Kill sounded extremely interesting, and I have been meaning to read it for a while now.  I’ve made a bit of progress on A Clean Kill so far and I am really enjoying its unique narrative.  I am planning to finish it off in the next couple of days and I look forward to seeing how it comes together.

Amazon

 

Warhammer 40,000: Da Big Dakka by Mike Brooks (Audiobook)

Da Big Dakka Cover

Nothing is more fun than a Warhammer 40,000 book that focuses on the orks, and Da Big Dakka is proving to be particularly awesome.  Following a band of orks as they rampage through a unique area of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, Da Big Dakka is proving to be pretty damn amazing, and I should hopefully finish it off soon.

Amazon

What did you recently finish reading?

Blood Mountain by Alisa Lynn Valdés (ebook)

Blood Mountain Cover

I managed to finish off Blood Mountain by Alisa Lynn Valdés this week.  Set in the mountains of New Mexico, Blood Mountain has a great locked-room premise behind it as several people start getting killed in an isolated ranch.  Fun and exciting, this was an interesting book to check out.

Amazon

 

The Chaos Agent by Mark Greaney (Audiobook)

The Chaos Agent Cover

An awesome continuation to one of my favourite spy thriller series, The Chaos Agent was an incredible read and I am hoping to get a review up for it soon.

Amazon

 

War Cry by Ian Ross (Trade Paperback)

War Cry Cover

Following on from Ian Ross’s outstanding 2023 novel, Battle Song, War Cry was an impressive historical fiction novel that followed a young knight as he fights in a complex English civil war.  I had an outstanding time with War Cry and managed to finish it off in a very short amount of time.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

White Ash Ridge by S. R. White

White Ash Ridge Cover

Once I get through A Clean Kill, I will probably start reading the captivating sounding Australian murder mystery, White Ash Ridge by S. R. White.  An awesome sequel to books like Prisoner, and Red Dirt Road, White Ash Ridge has an outstanding mystery behind it, and I cannot wait to see how it turns out.

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The Atlas Maneuver by Steve Berry

The Atlas Maneuver Cover

I am still hoping to start listening to The Atlas Maneuver by Steve Berry next.  The latest book in the long-running Cotton Malone series, The Atlas Maneuver will feature another outstanding plot that blends historical conspiracies with modern day thriller storylines.  I have deeply enjoyed all the recent Cotton Malone books, and I have no doubt The Atlas Maneuver will be another exceptional and fun entry.

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That’s it for this week, check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

Waiting on Wednesday – A Darkness Returns by Raymond E. Feist

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Fantasy, Waiting on Wednesday7 Comments

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  In this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I check out the next intriguing upcoming books from legendary fantasy author Raymond E. Feist, with A Darkness Returns, the first book in The Dragonwar Saga.

A Darkness Returns Cover

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Few fantasy authors have had the impact Raymond E. Feist has had over the years.  Best known for his epic Riftwar Cycle that spanned an impressive 30 books, Feist has been dominating the fantasy genre since his 1982 debut, Magician.  I have been a massive fan of Feist and the Riftwar Cycle for years, and indeed one of the first major fantasy novels I read was the 2002 entry, Talon of the Silver Hawk.  I have had a wonderful time reading every book in this series, especially the Empire trilogy which Feist co-wrote with Janny Wurts in the same universe, and I really enjoy the elaborate narratives of magic, dragons, political intrigue, and multi-dimensional threats, that was such a huge feature of the entire interconnected series.

A few years ago, I also was also lucky enough to get my hands on the various books in Feist’s new The Firemane Saga.  An awesome trilogy of compelling, character-driven fantasy reads, The Firemane Saga was Feist’s first series set outside of the Riftwar Cycle.  I deeply enjoyed the amazing narrative of the Firemane Saga books, made up of King of Ashes, Queen of Storms, and Master of Furies, which followed some impressive storylines and character arcs, while also telling a classic fantasy adventure.  My appreciation for this series only increased when it was revealed in Master of Furies that The Firemane Saga was set in was set in the same multiverse as the Riftwar books, with several key characters from Feist’s original works making an appearance.  In hindsight this shouldn’t have been too much of a surprise, especially as Feist has been including alternate worlds and universes in his books since day one, and I felt it gave the Firemane books a bit more impact.  Master of Furies, ended on an intriguing note, with several of the protagonists of the Firemane books travelling to the main world of the Riftwar books, Midkemia, to prepare themselves for a great evil that has infected their world.

Due to this fantastic conclusion, I have been waiting since 2022 to see how Feist was going to continue the Firemane Saga’s story, and it doesn’t look like we have too much longer to wait.  That is because in August this year, Feist is releasing his new book A Darkness Returns.  The first book in a new series, the Dragonwar Saga, A Darkness Returns promises to be quite an impressive read and I love the intriguing storylines that are apparently going to be included.

Plot Synopsis:

From legendary author Raymond E. Feist, the first installment in an epic new series that will join his acclaimed Firemane Saga with his signature Riftwar Cycle in a riveting, conclusive adventure.

As worlds collide . . .

Hatushaly, last scion of the Firemane dynasty; his beloved Hava, and their dubious friend Donte have been transported across space and time from their war-torn world of Garn to the relative peace of Midkemia.

There, on Sorcerer’s Isle, under the guidance of the great magician Magnus and his reincarnated father Pug, Hatu will explore and expand his unique magical abilities: for if Garn is to be saved, they will be needed.

With the evil Pride Lords defeated, the Church of the One has risen to bring death and destruction to Hatu’s home world. The kingdom of Ilcomen has fallen, and now the Church is sending forces to Marquensas, where Daylon Dumarch has declared himself king, and master swordsmith Declan Smith finds himself suddenly raised to the status of prince and war commander.

But there are even greater menaces than the Church of the One waiting in the wings, beings from the Void, creatures born of Darkness. . . 

I love the sound of this epic plot, especially as A Darkness Returns will more effectively bring together the two separate series and feature storylines in both universes.  This will include one storyline focusing on intriguing characters Hatushaly, Hava and Donte, interacting and learning from Feist’s established protagonists on his original fantasy world of Midkemia.  At the same time, another key storyline will be set in the world of The Firemane Saga, Garn, and follow other major protagonist Declan Smith, as he attempts to save his people from an insidious invasion.

Both storylines sound awesome in their own way, as we are kind of getting the best of both worlds here.  I know I will deeply enjoy seeing The Firemane Saga protagonists interacting with Magnus and Pug, and it will frankly be great to see the major Riftwar characters be the focus of a book again.  At the same time, the storyline set back in Garn sounds awesome as well.  The storyline surrounding the insidious Church of the One has been bubbling since the very first book and Declan Smith has been one of my favourite protagonists during the first three books.  It will be interesting to see how that storyline develops, and I cannot wait to see what happens to Declan next.

Honestly, I am too much of a Raymond E. Feist fan not to grab A Darkness Returns when it came out this year and I have very little doubt that I am going to have an amazing time with this novel.  It is going to be so cool to see how Feist brings these two intriguing universes together, and I cannot wait to find out what happens to all these well-established characters.  This will probably end up being one of my favourite fantasy novels of the year, and I cannot wait to get my hands on A Darkness Returns.

WWW Wednesday – 13 March 2024

On By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW Wednesday1 Comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

Blood Mountain by Alisa Lynn Valdés (ebook)

Blood Mountain Cover

I just started reading the intriguing thriller, Blood Mountain by Alisa Lynn Valdés.  Set in the mountains of New Mexico, Blood Mountain has a great locked-room premise behind it as several people start getting killed in an isolated ranch.  I haven’t made a ton of progress on Blood Moutain yet, but it is proving to be an excellent and enjoyable read, and I look forward to seeing how it turns out.

Amazon

 

The Chaos Agent by Mark Greaney (Audiobook)

The Chaos Agent Cover

I am still listening to the latest Gray Man novel from Mark Greaney, The Chaos Agent.  Featuring a great plot that pits Greaney’s long-running protagonist against those looking to unleash the next big AI weapon, The Chaos Agent is already proving to be an excellent read, and I am really enjoying the elaborate plot and interesting examination of real-world threats.  I am getting close to the end of The Chaos Agent, and I look forward to seeing how the elaborate narrative turns out.

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What did you recently finish reading?

Devil’s Kitchen by Candice Fox (Trade Paperback)

Devil's Kitchen Cover

I managed to knock out the latest Candice Fox book, Devil’s Kitchen, this week. Featuring an incredible plot about a group of firefighters who engage in heists, Devil’s Kitchen was extremely good and I loved the amazing and powerful story that Fox came up with.  Highly recommended.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

The Atlas Maneuver by Steve Berry

The Atlas Maneuver Cover

If I manage to finish off The Chaos Agent this week, I will probably start listening to The Atlas Maneuver by Steve Berry next.  The latest book in the long-running Cotton Malone series, The Atlas Maneuver will feature another outstanding plot that blends historical conspiracies with modern day thriller storylines.  I have deeply enjoyed all the recent Cotton Malone books, and I have no doubt The Atlas Maneuver will be another exceptional and fun entry.

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That’s it for this week, check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

Waiting on Wednesday – The Waiting by Michael Connelly

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Murder Mystery, Waiting on Wednesday10 Comments

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I check out one of my most anticipated crime fiction reads of 2024 with The Waiting by Michael Connelly.

The Waiting Cover

Amazon

Over the last few years, I have become a pretty major fan of acclaimed crime fiction author Michael Connelly, whose books usually end up being amongst my favourite reads each year.  Known for his ability to create iconic characters and elaborate narratives across the crime fiction subgenres, Connelly dominated the genre for decades, for a very good reason.  I have had a wonderful time with some of his most recent books including, the Jack McEvoy novel Fair Warning (one of my favourite books of 2020) and the Mickey Haller books, The Law of Innocence and Resurrection Walk (one of my favourite books of 2023).  However, some of his best recent work has been centred around his key female protagonist, Renée Ballard.

A tough, intelligent detective in the LAPD introduced in the 2017 novel, The Late Show, Ballard has been featured in several books which combine intriguing cases with a powerful focus on the protagonist’s battles with sexism and opposition from the LAPD top brass.  Her more recent novels have seen Ballard team up with Connelly’s iconic protagonist, Harry Bosch, and the two prove to be an intriguing pair, especially in excellent books like Dark Sacred Night, The Night Fire (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2019), The Dark Hours (one of my favourite books of 2021) and Desert Star (one of my favourite books of 2022).  Each of these Ballard focused novels have been pretty exceptional, and I have been excited to see what was next for this compelling protagonist in the future.  Luckily, we will be getting another addition to this series in November 2024 when Connelly releases his new book, The Waiting.

Set to primarily follow Ballard as she continues her work in the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit, The Waiting has an intriguing plot behind it as the protagonist investigates several compelling cases.  It also features a double hit of Bosch, as Conelly features both Harry and his daughter Maddie in this cool book.  I’m actually really looking forward to seeing Maddie Bosch as the focus of one of Conelly’s novels, especially considering how she is featured in the Bosch: Legacy television series.

All three cases highlighted below in the plot synopsis sound very exciting, and I look forward to getting an elaborate cold case investigation, which should make for some great reading when combined with the present-day issues.  Throw in the unique partnership between Ballard and Harry Bosch, as well as the mentor role Ballard will form with Maddie, and this should be a pretty powerful and character-focused book.  I have no doubt that I am going to absolutely love The Waiting when it comes out, and this will probably be one of my favourite novels of the year.  An exceptional sounding upcoming book from one of the very best crime fiction authors!

Plot Synopsis:

LAPD Detective Renée Ballard tracks a terrifying serial rapist whose trail has gone cold, with the help of the newest volunteer to the Open-Unsolved Unit: Patrol Officer Maddie Bosch, Harry’s daughter.

Renée Ballard and the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit get a hot shot DNA connection between a recently arrested man and a serial rapist and murderer who went quiet twenty years ago. The arrested man is only twenty-three, so the genetic link must be familial. It is his father who was the Pillowcase Rapist, responsible for a five-year reign of terror in the city of angels. But when Ballard and her team move in on their suspect, they encounter a baffling web of secrets and legal hurdles.

Meanwhile, Ballard’s badge, gun, and ID are stolen—a theft she can’t report without giving her enemies in the department the ammunition they need to end her career as a detective. She works the burglary alone, but her solo mission leads her into greater danger than she anticipates. She has no choice but to go outside the department for help, and that leads her to the door of Harry Bosch.

Finally, Ballard takes on a new volunteer to the cold case unit. Bosch’s daughter Maddie wants to supplement her work as a patrol officer on the night beat by investigating cases with Ballard. But Renée soon learns that Maddie has an ulterior motive for getting access to the city’s library of lost souls.

Quick Review – Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead by Jenny Hollander

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Drama, Quick Review, Thriller2 Comments

Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead Cover

Publisher: Constable (Trade Paperback – 13 February 2024)

Series: Standalone

Length: 326 pages

My Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars

Amazon

Debuting author Jenny Hollander presents a memorable first book with Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead, an excellent read that provides a powerful insight into grief and trauma.

Plot Synopsis:

THEY CALL ME THE LUCKY ONE. THEY DON’T KNOW I LIED.

Nine years ago, Charlie Colbert’s life changed for ever.

On Christmas Eve, as the snow fell, her elite graduate school was the site of a chilling attack. Several of her classmates died. Charlie survived.

Years later, Charlie has the life she always wanted at her fingertips: she’s editor-in-chief of a major magazine and engaged to the golden child of the publishing industry.

But when a film adaptation of that fateful night goes into production, Charlie’s dark past threatens to crash into her shiny present.

Charlie was named a ‘witness’ in the police reports. Yet she knows she was much more than that.

The truth about that night will shatter everything she’s worked for. Just how far will she go to protect it?


Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead is an outstanding first book from Hollander, who provides a gripping and intense narrative for readers to get stuck into.  Told through the eyes of main character Charlie Colbert, the story quickly engrosses you.  Charlie has rebuilt her life after a brutal attack years ago, but when secrets from the past threaten to come forth, Charlie is forced to interact with her fellow survivors once again.  At the same time, Charlie also begins reliving the events leading up to that fateful night in her head, desperately trying to remember everything that happened to truly understand everything that she’s been running from.

The resulting story is very good, and Hollander has come up with a gripping, character-driven book that you can really sink your teeth into.  The combination of past and present storylines is quite effective, and I liked how you got to see the protagonist’s dark reactions in the present while slowly learning about the events that traumatised her and the people involved.  The way in which Hollander reveals all the secrets of the past is handled exceptionally well, and I loved the combination of flashbacks, discussions in the present, and quotes from fictional news articles that hint at what happened.  The full events of the past storyline turn out to be far more complicated than you initially think, and the author throws in some incredibly clever twists.  I honestly was surprised at some of the more brilliant reveals that come to light, and you really appreciate Hollander’s ability to misdirect the audience into assuming certain things happened.  The full reveal and the fallout in the present for the protagonist are pretty amazing, and I loved how everything came together.  The reader really comes away feeling satisfied, especially as everyone gets what they truly deserve at the end.

While I loved the intricate story that Hollander pulled together for Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead, I think the most distinctive aspect of the book is the author’s focus on trauma and how different people deal with it.  This is mainly done through the eyes of the main character, Charlie, who is forced to continuously live with the trauma, guilt and emotional damage that followed the college massacre.  While a lot of this trauma results in a memory black hole for the protagonist, you get to see other aspects of it as the book continues, as she is dragged back into the past and begins to relive all the dark feelings that emerge.  The author’s portrayal of how a person would deal with such events, as well as how it would impact their memory, feels extremely realistic, and you can really feel the emotional damage done to Charlie and those closest to her as they try to help.  Other characters are also forced to deal with the trauma in other ways, and the different levels of regret, involvement and despair prove to be a captivating part of the book.  Throw in a cynical, if realistic, look at how the public idolises dark events, and Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead proves to be quite an emotional rollercoaster.  This emotional charge really enhances the impact of the book, and I deeply appreciated how Hollander worked the protagonist’s attempts to remember and overcome her past into the overarching story.

Overall, I found Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead to be an excellent and compelling first novel from Jenny Hollander that is really worth checking out.  Thanks to the great blend of personal storytelling, moving emotion, and dark secrets, readers come away from Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead deeply moved, and I look forward to seeing what intriguing reads Hollander writes in the future.

Amazon

Agricola: Invader by Simon Turney

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction8 Comments

Agricola - Invader Cover

Publisher: Head of Zeus (ebook – 14 March 2024)

Series: Agricola – Book One

Length: 352 page

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Amazon

I was in the mood for a compelling historical adventure, and the intriguing upcoming novel Invader, the first book in the Agricola series, seemed like the perfect choice, especially with the always impressive Simon Turney at the helm.

Simon Turney, who also writes as SJA Turney, is a well-established historian and historical fiction author who has been producing complex and action-packed reads for years.  Predominantly known for his Roman historical fiction works, including the Marius’ Mules, Tales of the Empire, Praetorian, Roman Adventure and Damned Emperors series, as well as the Knights Templar and Wolves of Odin books, Turney has a substantial catalogue of fantastic books to his name.  I have had some great experiences with Turney in the past, especially as I loved his 2019 novel Commodus, which perfectly captured the life of one of Rome’s most complex Emperors.  I have been meaning to read more from Turney for years and I finally got the chance when I received an early copy of his upcoming book, Invader.  The first book in a new series that will follow the life of famous Roman general Gnaeus Julius Agricola, a historical figure Turney is very familiar with, Invader was a great read that covered Agricola’s first military command.

58 AD, Rome.  Teenager Gnaeus Julius Agricola is the son of a distinguished Roman family that has languished into poverty since the death of his father.  Determined to bring honour and glory back to his family’s name, Agricola sets out to prove himself to the people or Rome through military service.  Utilising the last favour owed to his family, Agricola secures a posting as Tribune in the province of Britannia.

Determined to make the most of his opportunity, Agricola finds himself assigned to the staff of Roman general Suetonius Paulinus, who is about to launch an ambition campaign to capture more of the island and pacify the resentful tribes.  Marching across Britannia, Agricola begins to show himself a capable leader, especially while be forced to deal with rebelling locals, dangerous rivals, and an incompetent commander.

Soon, the war leads to the ancient stronghold of the druids, where Agricola finds his star on the rise.  However, great disaster awaits the Romans back at the heart of the province.  The warrior queen Boudicca has risen in revolt, determined to wipe out all the Romans in Britannia.  With the fate of the entire colony hanging in the balance, can Agricola help find a way to ensure victory for the Romans, even with the odds firmly stacked against them?

Invader was an epic and compelling piece of historical fiction from Turney, who starts up an awesome new series in a big way.  Loaded with action, intriguing characters, and some great historical detail, Invader was a highly addictive read that I was able to power through in two days.

Turney came up with an excellent story for the first Agricola book that quickly grabbed my attention and ensured I couldn’t stop reading.  Told exclusively from the focus on the new series, historical figure Gnaeus Julius Agricola, Invader serves to both introduce the protagonist, while also highlighting some of his early adventures.  The author starts the book off quick, setting the scene for the protagonist and ensuring you’re invested in his ambitions, before dropping him into a particularly chaotic period of the Roman occupation of Britania.

Thanks to the setting, most of the story focuses on General Paulinus’s massive campaign to conquer more territory and destroy the druids, which is a fascinating historical backdrop, especially considering where it led.  I liked how Turney primarily showed one leg of the invasion as the protagonist accompanied one of the split forces through a lengthy march of suppression, colonisation and negotiation.  This results in several interesting encounters and situations, especially as Agricola is desperate to prove himself against the enemy, while also dealing with internal issues, including a rival Tribune and a drunk commander.  This combination of obstacles helps to create a compelling story, and I enjoyed seeing the characters simultaneously involved with internal politics and external fights.  There are some great battles featured here, and this lengthy march of Agricola’s central force through the miserable British landscape proves to be one of the best parts of the entire book.

The rest of the story only gets better, as the protagonist and the supporting characters find themselves involved in two key conflicts, the Roman invasion of the island of Mona and Boudica’s revolt back in the settled provinces.  These scenes are loaded with more action as Turney does an excellent job of setting the protagonist right into the centre of the conflict, and the resulting chaotic warfare, personal worries and other issues really works to tell an engrossing story.  I was initially a little surprised that Turney chose to condense these two major events into the second half of the book, as you probably could have written a whole second Agricola novel about them.  However, after finishing the story, I think it worked well and honestly wasn’t too rushed.  This entire part of the novel proved to be highly entertaining and exciting, and I honestly couldn’t put it down as I waited to see how everything ended.  Turney also sets everything up nice for a sequel/continuing series, and it will be interesting to see how that turns out, especially now that we have the protagonist’s earliest adventures, a potential long-term rival, and a connection to the province Agricola is most known for.

I loved the historical elements that Turney featured in Invader as he did an outstanding job of capturing the feel of both the wild, unexplored areas of Britania and the conquering Roman legions advancing through it.  I loved the author’s great depictions of the various Roman units featured throughout Invader, and you really get a sense of the order, battle tactics and arrangements of a Roman army.  Turney also expertly portrays the intriguing events surrounding General Paulinus’s massive invasion of inner Britannia and, to a lesser degree, the events that led to Boudica’s uprising.  Many of the key recorded moments of these historical events are showcased in an amazing way in Invader, including some major battles, figures and locations.  I rather enjoyed how we saw these events from the perspective of a Roman soldier on campaign, who had no idea about the upcoming revolt that they would have to fight against, nor the wider political issues that led up to it.  Instead, you see how the army was forced to react and the resulting actions that led them to face off in the final battle against Boudicca.  As such, Invader proved to be a particularly impressive historical read, and I cannot wait to see how Turney portrays other key events that Agricola was involved within in future books of this series.

In addition to showcasing the historical events, Turney also features an intriguing range of characters who make up the story.  Most of this is shown through the eyes of series protagonist Gnaeus Julius Agricola, who serves as the point of view character.  Agricola is a historical figure that Turney is very familiar with, and Turney really does a great job featuring him.  While Agricola is generally strongly covered in historical texts (his son-in-law is one of the few surviving historical sources of the period), only a little is known about Agricola’s first visit to Britannia as a young man.  Turney does a great job of portraying Agricola as a hungry young man looking to prove himself, and I think he presented a great potential story about the character.  Watching Agricola battle against everything holding him back was very entertaining, and I look forward to seeing what happens next in the series.  Naturally, Turney places Agricola in the middle of every major battle or encounter he could find, mainly to flesh out the sparse historical notes, and it was interesting to see the combination of ambition, dedication, tactical ability and pride that the author imagined this figure would have in his youth.  Invader also features a great range of supporting characters, both from history and fictional inclusions, who all add a lot to the story.  Standouts include a frustrating rival for the protagonist, a drunk and unpredictable commander who the protagonist is forced to work around, and a native slave, Luci, with whom the protagonist forms an unusual friendship.  I really enjoyed these characters, and it will be interesting to see how their stories continue in the rest of the series.

Overall, Invader was an impressive piece of historical fiction from Simon Turney.  Featuring a great historically important protagonist, Invader served as a brilliant first entry in the new Agricola series, and I really enjoyed the intense and intriguing story that emerged.  Exciting, entertaining, and highly addictive, Invader was an outstanding read that comes highly recommended.  I had an awesome time reading Invader, and I cannot wait to see how Turney captures the rest of Agricola’s complex life throughout this series.

Amazon